Joyce Meyer: Wisdom is Calling Out to You...

Along the way on our journey through life, we will have to make many decisions, & we will always get into trouble if we make them emotionally or according to what we think or want.

God wants us to make wise decisions. I believe having wisdom is choosing to do now what we will be happy with later.

Proverbs says that wisdom is calling out to us. You must walk in God's wisdom & realize that the choices you make today will affect your tomorrow. So many people never enjoy life because they're always dealing with messes resulting from a lack of wisdom.

Don't do something selfish, gambling that things will turn out right. Wisdom does not gamble, it invests in the future. Wisdom doesn't settle for a cheap thrill. Instead, it follows God into a better tomorrow.

So what about you? Are you walking in wisdom today? If you're not, the good news is that wisdom is already calling out to you. God's ready & willing to provide you with His wisdom. Just ask Him for it & make the decisions that will invest in a godly future. 

Joyce Meyer: Be Decisive!

Indecision is a miserable state to be in & certainly is not a fruit of the simple life. The apostle James said the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Never making a decision because you're afraid you'll make the wrong one will get you nowhere. How much time do you think we waste when we can't make up our minds?

We often labor over the choices before us when we just need to make a decision & let it stand. This may be a simple example, but think about it: When you stand in front of your closet in the morning looking at all your clothes, just choose something & put it on. Don't go back & forth until you make yourself late for work!

Let me encourage you to start making decisions without second-guessing yourself or worrying about the choices you make. Don't be double-minded or wishy-washy because doubting your decisions after you make them will steal the enjoyment from everything you do. Make the best decisions you can & trust God with the results.

My Walk With Christ| Testimony

Where have I gone? Where have I been? etc etc etc...

I'd like to say that I've been busy with God. He's the center of my life. Nothing else comes before Him. I do my all to try to make Him first. He doesn't deserve to come last place anymore.

Many times, we put Him off because we know He will always be there. But what if He was like man? Stop fooling with you for the lack of communication and attention you show? I love how awesome, loving, forgiving God is. He's nothing like anything of this world!

My testimony:

After I graduated Fall 2010 with my BA. I knew I wanted to get my Master's. I just didn't know WHEN or HOW. I knew I wanted to start my mentoring program for girls. I started it in 2011, but it's still not quit where I want it to be. 

After graduating, I went through a rough breakup. Months later I was blessed with a job. Something to keep me going. I love what I do. Working with kids. A year past, I knew I wanted to do more, and I wanted more. I knew I wanted to expand my mentoring program. I knew I needed to step out on faith & add some newness in my life. 

God was allowing me to get out of my comfort zone. After I graduated I knew I would be stepping out into something I wasn't quit ready or comfortable with. I did...

September 2012 is when I started looking into getting my Master's. The next month I applied, and wrote a letter in order to get to the next step.

The last week in November is when I was accepted, then started classes days after!!! God really blew me away. I was counting on HIM and not man to work this out. I knew I wanted this degree. I knew I wanted to see if it was meant to be and not have any "what if's?" 

It seems like every sense I've been obedient, patient, and spending more time with my Father, blessings that I've been in the way of, have been pouring in. I'm just thankful that I was prepared for the blessings that were on hold for me.

I'm grateful He trusted and waiting on ME. Little ole me. I know my God has more in store for me. 

I'll have another awesome testimony to share...some know, others do not :)

-Below is my Instagram post regarding my testimony-

Joyce Meyer: Give Him Your Cares & Follow Your Heart

"To thine own heart be true," the old saying goes. It remains a timely & relevant life lesson that all of us would do well to remember. When we veer off the course that our heart is advising us to follow, we can make our lives very difficult. 

Now I'm not talking about selfish desires. I'm talking about pursuing the desires that God outs in your heart. What do you want out of life? What do you believe is God's will for you? Are you pursuing it?

Some people have too many cares & worries that keep them from stepping out & following what's in their heart. They've decided it's out of their reach. 

The Bible says we should cast all our cares upon God for He cares for us. Whatever worry you have that is keeping you from following your heart, you need to give it to God & let Him take care of it.

He wants you to follow the desires He's placed in you. Let God take care of your cares & follow your heart. You can trust Him. He cares for you!

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Joyce Meyer: Follow the Little Promptings

The Holy Spirit always wants to lead us through life, but sometimes we get so focused on seemingly "big" issues that we don't realize how much He speaks in small promptings every day.

I was on my way home one day & intended to stop & get a cup of coffee, when I had a strong impression that I should call my secretary & ask if she wanted a cup too. When I called, she said 'I was just standing here thinking, I would love a good cup of coffee right now.'

You see, God wanted to give her the desire of her heart, & He wanted to work through me. I did not hear a loud voice or see an angel or have a vision. I simply had an inner sensing that I should offer her a cup of coffee.

In the same way, God wants to bless the people in your life. I encourage you today to keep your heart sensitive to God's voice. Follow the little promptings. He will speak to your heart & lead you in the way you should go.


***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Joyce Meyer: Move Past Regret & Make New Choices

Wrong choices cause regret, & when we experience regret we need to deal with it & let it teach us how to make better choices in the future.

I understand firsthand that wrong choices lead to regret. I remember a time several years ago when I looked at myself & saw a noticeable difference between my husband, Dave, & me, because he has exercised all his life & is healthy, strong & in good physical shape.

Initially, I merely regretted that I wasn't as strong as Dave, but then I realized I could do something about it. I now exercise regularly & have been amazed by the positive difference.

The Bible says that with God, you are a "new creation." You don't have to live in your old ways, but you can now make new, better choices empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself regretting some of the unwise choices you have made in the past, don't be deceived into thinking it is too late to do anything about it. Just start doing what's right & stick with it.

As you start making better choices, you will come to experience a life in which you enjoy God's blessings every day.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Instagram| Inspiration

If you didn't knowwwwww.

I am on Instagram...

Inspiration, uplifting, promoting, sharing & laughter :)

NIKKINICOLE_

Joyce Meyer: Choose God's Standards, Not the World's

Living above society's moral decline involves the choices we make regarding our conversations, the way we dress, what we read, & the TV shows & movies we watch. It also has to do with the level of integrity with which we live our personal lives, interact with other people & conduct ourselves in our businesses or professions.

As Christians, we need to encourage one another to live by godly standards & resist the pull of the world. A well-known quote offers some good advice: 'Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'

One of God's great gifts to mankind is the power of choice. If we want to enjoy the blessings He has for us, we need to make lifestyle choices that align with His Word & are consistent with the values of His Word, not choices reflecting the constantly eroding values of the world.

I urge you to make a decision to serve God wholly, putting Him first in everything you do.

Guess What I Got? ...Headed Towards A Healthier Me!

So Friday, I finally received my NutriBullet that I ordered online via Target.com. I was super pumped. So happy that I barely read the directions on how to use it (which I do with most gadgets). Below is what I came up with....

This time around, this juice tasted how it looked...nasty! Lol. I just added anything that I HAD (fruits & veggies) in there. Well, you usually can't go round with doing that. My mistake is that I added guacamole instead of avocado to it. Ew! Avocado is great when added to your fruits & veggies when juicing. They say it makes it creamy...yum!

So anyways, I'll be spending this time till the 5th researching recipes for the fruits & veggies I like to eat, & want to try out. Also, there's recipes that promote energy, detoxing, etc.

-1 diced red apple-

Also,  for clarification. I'm not going on a diet. My intake won't be just the things I juice. I'll be eating like I've normally have, BUT I'll be adding a juice drink ( at least 1) everyday.

-flaxseed meal-

-water-

[finished product]

I got a question asking if you can add yogurt to the juice. I think that would make it more of a smoothie, but I could be wrong. I don't see anything wrong with it. It's all about your taste & how much you want to get out of juicing.

Many people ONLY use organic produce. I, myself can't go that route. It's not in my budget. I just make sure I wash my items really well.

Some people have juiced for 21 days & even 30 days. Those seem to be the popular lengths of days. The only thing that they consume is water, fruits & veggies  that they've juiced. I don't suggest it, but some do it for the purpose of losing weight, detoxing the body, etc. Research the pros & cons of why you're juicing. 

Anywho, I've heard great things about the NutriBulllet which is why I purchased it. I'm not sure if I will be doing a review on it, but we'll see.

Ps. I've been juicing since Friday. Saturday marked the official day that I made a great tasting juice. Recipe will be posted soon.

Joyce Meyer: You're Only Accountable to God

Too many people never get around to fulfilling God's purpose for their life because they're so busy keeping everyone else happy. The world is filled with people who think they know what you should be doing with your life.

But the Bible says you will give an account to God, not anyone else, of how you've lived. So if you're not already doing so, you need to start living in a way that will enable you to stand before Him without shame.

Are you daring enough to follow your heart rather than the crowd? Are you focused even when many voices try to draw you away from your purpose?

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who wait for something to happen and those who make things happen. God has called you to do great things for His Kingdom, don't shy away from it.

You need to be intentional. You need to live life ON purpose. Don't just wait around to see what everyone else is going to do & then follow the crowd. Stir yourself up, make a decision, & get going!

Joyce Meyer: Thankful in the Midst of Suffering...

The Bible encourages us to always be thankful. That's easy when God answers prayer  & delivers us from problems. But it isn't always easy when things go wrong. So how can we remain thankful in the midst of suffering?

We have TWO choices to make. The first is to praise God in spite of what's going on in our lives, Or another way to say that is, in the midst of our troubles & hardships, we can rejoice over the things that are not wrong in our lives.

The second choice is to ask, "God what can I learn from this? What do You want to teach me through this so that may be closer to You & rejoice more fully in Your goodness?" Those are not easy questions, & the answers are often hard to hear.

Sometimes we can only grasp the important lessons in our lives when we go through difficult times. Thank God that the hard times will lead you to better things.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Juicing | An Addition to My Diet...

If you know me, you know that I love trying to maintain being fit, being spiritually connected with God, and living a healthier lifestyle.

I was reading Kimberly's blog KimberlyLuxe.com where she did a post on how she's preparing for a full body detox & cleanse HERE

I did a fast a few months ago. I wanted to share details, but when fasting (spiritual reasons) it's not something to share with others. Although I had a partner who I did this fast with, she's my link AKA accountability partner. I didn't do as well as I wanted to when it came to lasting the full time we had planned. But I did get a lot of it spiritually & that's something I plan on doing again real soon.

There's nothing like being obedient and feeling the presence of God. Just yearning for his love, prayer, meditating & His help is amazing. I did a lot of praying. Prayer is everything to me. 

Anyways, this post is in regards to me adding juicing to my diet. I just recently purchased the Nutri-Bullet from Target online & I plan on sharing my journey, likes, dislikes, recipes, favorite recipes, etc. 

I won't be doing a juice fast until my body gets use to me juicing on a regular. I'll give my body 21 days worth of goodness added to my diet. 21 straight days of juicing will be well worth it for me....

Benefits:

-reduce risk of cancer
-boost your immune system
-helps remove toxins from your body
-aid digestion (something I need)
-lose weight

I'm not doing this to lose weight. Because the weight you lose from juicing/fasting will only be gained by when you end the fast/juicing process. You have to really know how to keep off the weight you lost & that's difficult. I'm doing it for eternal reasons. 

I've been feeling tired, sluggish & that's not the biz at all. I know some of it has to do with some of the foods I continue to eat, and I can't do much about that right now, but when I can, it'll ALL fall in place for me :)
I can SAY that my portions & calorie counting has gotten better, so that is a plus!

When will you start juicing?

Dec. 5th, 2012 till Dec. 25th

Have any of you incorporated juicing to your diet? It seems like one of the most popular things to do. Also, have any of you done a cleanse? Share away....

Joyce Meyer: The True Test of Spiritual Maturity

We are to have genuine, pure, fervent love for others above everything else we do. If we can manage only one thing in our lives, it should be to love other people.

Many people think great faith is the number one sign of spiritual maturity. But I believe that walking in love is the true test of spiritual maturity, & I know that it energizes our faith walk.

The Bible teaches that faith works through love. Galatians 5:6 says that what really counts is "faith activated & energized & expressed & working through love." Love is not talk or theory; it's action.

Trying to walk in faith without love is like having a flashlight with no battery. We must keep our love battery charged at all times, otherwise our faith will not work! I believe Christians can run into problems when we do  not diligently pursue walking in love as a vital part of our faith & relationship with God.

So pursue a life of love, & watch your faith strengthen & grow. When God's love comes first, everything else follows.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

My Walk With Christ: Romans 12:1

Romans 12: 1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers & sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy & pleasing to God --this is your true & proper worship.

2 Do not conform to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test & approve what God's will is --his good, pleasing & perfect will.

Joyce Meyer: You Must Develop Patience

When you & I say to God, "Change me," we better know what we're saying because we are not just going to wake up different the next morning. Instead, what God is going to do is give us an opportunity, through opposition, to grow as we change.

James 1 tells us how important it is to have patience when we're changing & facing opposition. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that only develops & grows under trial, & it's something we need. Scripture tells us that when we have it, we're perfect & entire, lacking nothing. However, there's just no way to get it without going through something to receive it.

If we really want to be victorious Christians who serve God & make a difference in the world, then we are going to have to go through some challenging things. The devil will try to scare you off, but God can see you through any challenge.

So today, choose to let God work through you, even in the face of opposition. As your patience grows & develops, you will step into a life of great victory.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Prevent Breast Cancer By Eating Certain Veggies...

I don't know how true this is, but it doesn't help to eat your veggies...

I say do your research, ask your doctor & live a healthier lifestyle :)

Joyce Meyer: Pursue a Life of Holiness

I think we need to be a little more careful than we are with how we live. Not that we have to be so careful that we live in fear, but careful in a godly way.

Because if we're not careful about who our friends are, what television programs & movies we watch, what kind of books we read, what kind of music we listen to, how we spend our money, & what we do with our time, we could end up living wasted lives.

As Christians, we must pursue holiness & realize that we are sanctified, which means we are set apart for God's use. In fact, the minute we accept Christ as our Savior, we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit & set apart for a God-given purpose, And if we're not fulfilling our purpose, we're going to feel empty & frustrated.

I urge you today to pursue your purpose of holiness. When faced with tricky decisions, ask God what to do & choose the path of holiness that He has laid out for you.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Like Nuts??? Top 5 Nuts For Nutrition....

Tis the season to add nuts in your meals....

Welp if you're like me & don't eat nuts year around, this is the season to start.

Different nuts are in season, they go good in salads, as well as desserts.

Let's not act as if we've stopped eating sweets all together lol.

I know I haven't.

Anywho, for me, I like to eat nuts solo.

Have any recipes that you can use these nuts in?

Share away!

Bands Will Make Her Dance...

These are the ONLY bands that should make YOU dance for YOUR man ladies...

Don't let these songs or boys trick you into giving the cookies...

We don't want soul ties with randoms...

Lock them down until marriage...

Just a little encouragement for my single ladies...

Joyce Meyer: The Key to Possessing Your Promised Land

God wants to lead you into your promised land...after all, you have been recreated in Christ, born anew, that you might live the good life that God prearranged for you. But to follow God into that life, He will have to prepare you first, & that means some things will need to change.

Now, don't be afraid of the word change; it just means that you stop doing some things you've been doing & start doing some things you haven't been doing. For example, stop thinking negative thoughts & start thinking positively, stop settling in your comfort zone & step out the boat, stop procrastinating & start taking the opportunities that arise.

It's not enough to just read about & talk about the Promised Land. Decide that you are going to possess your promised land. God is good; He will lead you there. Just be willing to follow & accept the positive changes that God wants to bring to your life as He prepares you to be a blessing to others. 

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

My Walk With Christ: Pinky Promise...

Although I haven't been intimate in years.
I have made the decision & made a promise to God that I would not be intimate  (physically & emotionally) with anyone until marriage & until God has put on my heart that I'm ready.

My friend ordered myself & her a Cross Ring last month from Heather Lindsey's Pinky Promise store...
The symbol & purpose of the ring (although with or without the ring, the promise I've made to God is real)..
My Pinky Promise
"My promise is to always honor Christ with my body. Whether I'm single or married. I am content with my portion & I always keep my eyes on Christ. I refuse to get into unhealthy emotional or physical relationships. He wants my Heart & HE has it."
Meditate on Romans 12:1 daily

Forever...

You can purchase your own HERE for $7

Heather also debut the new Sterling Silver Pinky Promise ring
$21.95

Check us out...The Pinky Promise Movement:
http://www.pinkypromisemovement.com/ 
Awesome group ladies over there...Teen girls you can also join as well. I've been a part of the group for a month or so now...love it!
There are many different groups to join
-Group meet ups (whatever area you live in)
-Singles 
-Married 
-College
-Beauty
-Bloggers
-Praise & Worship
etc

The Best Cardio to Burn Fat....

GET TO IT LADIES & GENTS!

If you're on Instagram you can follow:

Fitspiration_

For fitness tips, inspiration, & more...

Keep Going: God Has The Last Say

When you find yourself not wanting more out of life, listen to your conscience. It's there for a reason.

I think sometimes we stay in situations longer than we should because we're comfortable. So comfortable to where we don't want to do the work, or to see how we can make our next move our best move. Have a better plan. Make life more enjoyable.

I've grown tired to certain things in my life. And I remember feeling like this the beginning of January (off & on). Although I can say that I have been making some changes to move in a different direction, it's just the process is so slow.

I say all this to say, don't get to comfortable. Don't grow to like your situation. But be content & patient with God. If you don't like it, get out of it and do something about it. We have a choice, and whether we do something about it or not is totally up to us.

But I refuse to settle. I refuse to not live my life purpose. I refuse to be unhappy. I refuse to allow my emotions to get the best of me. I refuse to let others THINK they have the last say on decisions they THINK are in their hands. My GOD is an awesome GOD! He always has the last say. So the job I think I may never get is in the hands of the Lord. That is my new outlook on things. I believe & have faith it will ALL work out.

I don't allow things of the word to take control of what is not theirs from jump anymore. I praise God for all He has done & doing in my life. One closed door just means I need to keep going. If it's something you really want, keep going for it. Don't allow others to hold the key to your happiness & what you want out of life. Not even your mother, daddy, grandma, etc....

Reminder: Giving...

Luke 6: 38 says "Give, & you will receive. Your gift will return in full pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, & poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."

Keep that in mind everyone...Be blessed!

Joyce Meyer: You Can't Out-Give God

Some put money or the world's system of commerce before God. But the Bible states in Revelation 18 that if we put our trust in money, it's going to fail. I've found that the way to deal with money, instead of struggling with it, is to try & out-give God...because we can't.

The more we give away, the more we'll receive. The more we obey Him with our finances, the more He blesses us. The more we do for other people, the more God has other do for us. 

Society tells us to invest everything in the world's system & work all the time to make more money. But if we do, we'll really never have anything that matters, especially joy. And we won't be able to enjoy the money we have because we won't be using it God's way.

It may not make sense according to the world's system, but God doesn't want you to simply make money & hoard it away. God says that by giving away, you will have more in the end. I challenge you to increase your generosity today. Trust me, you can't out-give God.

The part about giving reminds me of one of my recent posts: Make Room For The New check that out!

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Joyce Meyer: He Holds It All Together

Colossians 1:17 is a pretty awesome scripture. It tells us Jesus is holding EVERYTHING together. Wow! Even people who don't realize this are held together by Him.

Think about it. We can't have a good marriage if Jesus isn't holding it together. If Jesus isn't leading & guiding our personal relationships, then we aren't going to have good ones. Our finances would be a mess without Jesus. Our minds & emotions would be a wreck without Him. Everything would be a mess without Jesus.

If Jesus is not the most important thing in our life, then we need to rearrange our priorities. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek God & His kingdom first because if we don't have first things first, then everything else will also be out of order & cause us problems. God's way of being, doing & seeking His kingdom, is to find out how He wants things done- how to treat people, how to act in situations, how to spend money, what kind of attitude to have, & what kind of entertainment He approves of.

Start today by giving Him first place in your life. He's holding you together...He created You to follow Him. Put Him first in your life.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Make Room For The New...

What girl doesn't like new clothes? When I clean out my closet, new clothes show up.

In order to make room for new things in our lives we must get rid of the old. In order to kick a bad habit you must replace whatever that habit is with something new. You can't take away & not fill that void. Makes sense?

So, my goal is to make room for the new...my blessings!

Although it's right on time, I'm NOT doing this because a new year is approaching shortly, but because it's time. I don't believe in new year's resolutions but goals.

I wanted to share this with you all, just in case some of you may have been thinking about doing something similar. Well here is your PUSH now GO!

God wants US to be givers. At times or many times, we need to give things we want to hold on to, but don't need in order to make room for something better.

Maybe you want to keep that jacket you bought 7 years ago, and you're telling yourself "I'll wear it one day" but you've yet to have put it on. Give that away to someone in need. Find someone who will appreciate it. Seek the needy & provide. We are here as GOD's children to help one another out.

I hope this has inspired you all to do your part. Whether big or small. But remember "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" -Matthew 6:3

I live by that scripture.... God bless

[Photo above] My friend, a young girl who came out to our prom workshop the beginning of this year & myself :)

Joyce Meyer: More Than Conquerors

God gives us dreams for the future, but sometimes those dreams can seem impossible. That's when fear starts to set in.

If you are determined to never give up on your dream, then you have to take chances, you have to be courageous. And you need to understand that courage is not the absence of fear; it is pressing forward when you feel afraid. SO when you face situations that threaten or intimidate you, you do not need to pray as much for the fear to go away as for boldness & courage so you can move ahead in spite of the fear.

The spirit of fear will always try to keep you from going forward. The enemy has used fear for centuries to try to stop people, & he is not going to change his strategy now. But you can defeat fear, because you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves us.

I want to encourage you to be determined to face fear when it comes against you. Stand firm, trusting God & knowing He is always with you.  -Joyce Meyer

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

What Some of My Sunday Co-Wash Days Consist of...

I've found that shampooing my hair often is a no no. When I started this natural hair journey, I thought this was something I needed to do. I mean it seems logic. Who wants dirty hair? But, for some (like myself) your natural oils are better than dry, brittle hair

Sunday's hair day: Wanted to showcase items I typically use on my hair every week on my wash aka Co-wash days.

-Applied VO5 Milk Moistures conditioner + oil mix (EVOO, coconut oil, grapeseed oil which is pictured below).
-Allowed that to stay on my hair for an hour & detangle my hair
-Washed it out

-Conditioned & detangled AGAIN with TRESemme moisture rich

photo: left-to-right mixed oils, Organic Root Stimulator Hair May & Restortative Mask

-Protein treatment: with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo (left it in my hair for a few hours then washed it out).
-Applied the One n' Only Argan Oil Restorative Mask to my hair & let sit for 10mins.

-Hot oil treatment with my oil mix (pictured above) + JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil). Sat under my dryer for an hour.

Lastly...

-Applied the ApHogee ProVitamin Leave in Conditioner

-The applied the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil hair lotion

Question: What are some products you use when you CoWash your hair?

Keep Going! Don't Lose Sight of HIM...

I wanted encourage someone out there to keep going. Whatever that means to you. Whatever you maybe going through. But never lose sigh of the Lord. 

We tend to get side track & start yearning for blessings & a breakthrough that we forget about Him. He has it ALL under control. What today looks like won't last forever.

Yesterday is in the past. Leave it there. Don't carry baggage from years ago. Forgive yourself, let go & let God. 

I myself started to get SO caught up in what God has for me next that I forgot to focus my main attention on Him. Without Him none of what I currently have would be possible...

So again, let's not get so caught up in what He's going to do & be happy for what He has done for us today. 

Have a blessed day <3

Joyce Meyer: Walk with Boldness

Some people exude boldness, while others struggle with living boldly as a loved child of God. I had that problem until God showed me some important keys that helped me live boldly, & I want to share them with you,

1. Refuse to live in fear. Fear is an epidemic in our society. The Bible instructs us in Hebrews 10:38 to live by faith & not draw back in fear.

2. Put setbacks behind you. You are not a failure because you try new things & they don't work out. You fail only when you stop trying. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, & if you do, recover quickly & press on.

3. Don't draw comparisons. Boldness will be impossible as long as you compare yourself to others. Boldness comes from accepting who you are & being the best you can be.

4. Be willing to take action. Search your heart & ask yourself what you believe God wants you to do, & then do it.


***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Joyce Meyer: The Reason Jesus Came

We are told to draw near to God before we're told to stop sinning.

There are so many people who have it backwards. They think they can never come to God, can never have a relationship with Him, & can never be a Christian because they have issues in their life that they are trying to overcome first. They are trying to get themselves all straightened out so they can be good enough to have a relationship with Him.

But that's wrong. The reason Jesus came is because we can never be good enough without Him. We have to have Jesus in our life. His death, His shed blood, paid for our sins, paid the debt the we owed.

There's no way we can be cleansed of sin until we draw near to God though the name of Jesus. God longs for you to come close to Him today. Don't stay away, believing the lie that you must clean yourself of sin first. Instead, go to God, already cleansed by the sacrifice Jesus made for you.

***You can find this devotional plan, along with others from the YouVerison Bible app under Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life

Joyce Meyer: Follow God's Wisdom, Not Your Own Feelings

Life is no fun when we let our feelings run the show. Feelings change from day to day, hour to hour, even moment to moment. They often lie to us, in short, we cannot trust our feelings.

But we can choose, as Christ followers, to ignore false emotions & live by truth & wisdom. Let me give you some examples. Perhaps you have found yourself in a crowd of people & felt as though everyone was talking about you. That doesn't mean they were. Maybe you feel that nobody understands you, but that doesn't mean they don't. You may feel misunderstood, unappreciated or even mistreated, but that doesn't mean you are.

These are only feelings. We need to be mature, disciplined, Holy Spirit-controlled people, determined to walk in the Spirit. It takes a constant act of the will to choose to do things God's way rather than our way.

Even though we may feel occasionally bombarded by negative emotions, we cannot allow those feelings to control & spoil life. Instead, we can choose to follow the truth-godly wisdom, knowledge & understanding.

My FUN Weekend: LA Fair 2012

Headed to the fair....

The yummy part of the fair was the fried oreos :)

Super delish

I walked around & ate, walked & ate...no rides for me lol

A ZORSE! I've never seen nor heard of such thing lol

The Zebra horse

Aww the mama goat with her babies

Souvenir

Nachos

As it says...Yummy! The icing on the cake..took my cotton candy to go.

I definitely ate a bunch of junk food that day (Sunday)

This past weekend was great.

I went to the Pow Wow last Saturday

Sunday morning went to church service & we had our 1st Annual Women's Day

I'm not in rhw choir but I was asked along with other women of the church to sing that day

Not solo! Lol

It was great stepping out my comfort zone.

Although I've been in the choir & sung in church before this time it was different...

Everything in life from my time I've been dedicated about my walk with God I've stepped out on faith...nothing better than trusting in Him...

Joyce Meyer: Change Your Definition of Prayer

Have you ever heard the biblical phrase "pray without ceasing"? To many, that sounds daunting & impossible. How could anyone bow their head, kneel, & pray 24 hours a day?

If that's what you think, it might be time to change your definition of prayer. Too often we view prayer as a very specific process that can only happen once we've gone to a private place & shut the entire world out.

But do you realize that even directing a thought toward God qualifies as silent prayer? It's true! Prayer is communicating with God, so when the Bible says to "pray without ceasing" it means to always be open to communication with God. That could mean a two-hour prayer session, or it could be something as simple as being aware of His presence as you go throughout your day.

God has not made prayer complicated. He intends for prayer to be an integral part of our everyday lives. Today, change your definition of prayer, & you can experience the joy that comes from constant communication with the God who loves you.

Joyce Meyer: Speak God's Word to the Mountain

When Jesus said that we are to speak to the mountain, commanding it to be lifted up & thrown into the sea, He was making a radical statement.

See, we usually talk about the "mountains," or challenges, in our lives, but God's Word instructs us to talk to them. And when we do, we must respond to them with the Word of God.

In Luke 4, when Satan was trying to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, the Lord responded to every trial by speaking Scripture. He repeatedly quoted verses that met the lies & deceptions of the devil head-on.

We have a tendency to try this for awhile, but when we do not see quick results, we stop speaking the Word to our problems & begin once again to speak our feelings. Persistence is a vital link to obtaining victory.

Constantly speaking the Word is powerful & absolutely necessary in overcoming any problem or negative situation. Know what you believe & be determined to stick with it to the end.

My Walk With Christ...Renewed!

Although I've made big steps toward my relationship with God in the past month & some weeks. I can say I don't miss the old me. The old me worried a lot, super tired, depended on others at times, wasn't fully happy, always put others before herself, ashamed & the list goes on.

I am now at peace & loving every step with the Lord. I'm not saying I'm HOLY, but I do take my relationship & walk with God seriously. I now have a better support system, better outlook on my life, & awesome goals.

I just feel so much better about life. I've literally mailed off baggage that was holding me down & back. I felt like I had unfinished business when it came to certain people in my life that I just needed to let go. It was so hard, but it was needed. What made me realize this part of my life was a singles fellowship I attended that my church family had the beginning of this month. It made revaulate my life, the things I let guys get away with, and how available I made myself to others. We just need to NOT be so available sometimes. Get busy!

Well I'm busy alright. With work, reading my Bible & plans, weekly meetings with my friend which we hold one another accountable for certain things, bible study, morning Sunday service, daily reading (leisure).

The way I have gotten through my weeks, and had a change in things is by me:
Repenting, adjusting, minimazie noise, maximize prayer, sit in silence & listen to God.

Joyce Meyer: How to Develop Your Gifts

People ask me all the time how to discover & develop the gifts God has given them. Here are a few helpful steps that I've discovered:

1. Focus on the strengths God gave you. Concentrating on your strengths will help you fulfill the calling God has out on your life.

2. Exercise your gift. Find something you like to do & that you do well, & do it over & over again. Want to know what will happen? You will feel better about yourself because you won't be constantly failing.

3. Have the courage to be different. Unhappiness comes when you try to be like everyone else rather than embracing the unique person that you are.

4. Learn to cope with criticism. Have enough confidence in who you are in Christ that you can listen to others & be open to change without feeling you have to agree with their viewpoint or attain their approval.

God has planted greatness in you. Let today be the beginning of a great adventure as you step into the gifts He's given you.

My Walk With Christ... Practicing Repenting.

A lot of don't think of this step when pursuing a relationship with God. But it's an important one. We must repent the things we once did. What things you may ask? Drinking, cursing, cheating, lying, stealing, masturbation etc. Repenting your sins doesn't mean "Oh, I'll repent my sins today, & if I slip up, I can always comes back to the Lord & repent again." You must NOT follow back into those ways.

Think: Think about the many blessings you may have missed out on? What goodness you got out of that sin?

When we repent to God we must do so & leave it in the past, but most importantly forgive yourself for it. Don't hold on to it. It's in the past. Lying, misleading, fear, infidelity, drinking etc. Finally make the decision that will turn your life around & show God that you're ready. He's usually always waiting on us to get out of our own way most of the time. I believe that what I've repent is in the past & I will not go back to my old ways. We tend blame our flesh which is most of it, but we must take the responsibility as well.

Don't believe what others may tell you...

"Why are you trying to turn your life around, you're too old"

"You've done too much dirt to want to act right"

"He won't forgive you!"

They are a lie. The devil is a lie!

He comes in many forms folks...don't fall for it

- Acts 3:19

New Hair Regimen: NO To Breakage...

So0o0 my hair has me on punishment. All that careless care with my hair has caught up with me. I can't help but laugh & shake my head. Its nothing new when I say I dont really like my natural hair. The texture is fine. It's just the detangling process that get's on my nerves. And of course that's the MOST important part unfortunately. And I didn't have the patience to really give it the proper TLC when it comes to detangling. Taking the proper steps before washing it, after it's washed etc. I do well with keeping my hair clean, moisturized, styled & everything else except stupid detangling.

So I've done some research to see what I could use & how to take another route when it comes to this situation.

New regimen:

-finger comb hair
-pre-poo before washing hair
-don't use a Denman brush to detangle (only when doing wash n go's to define curls, which I don't do)
-protein
-use coconut oil (when taking down braids when hair is dry for easier take down.

How I knew I had breakage: 

When I straightened the front part of my hair last weekend I noticed I had way too many fly aways (the hair wasn't even or laying down, different lengths). I was so0o0oo0 mad. This had to happen recently because I've been straighening my hair for the past few months. I know I don't do a great job detangling but it wasn't THIS BAD before!

If you have any other questions regarding anything in this post, just leave a comment below & I'll answer it as soon as I can...welp, about to go work on my head :(

Ps. there's a BIG difference between breakage & shedding. They are not the same folks.
And no my hair breakage isn't from heat, or heat damage....

**If you're interested in the products & a break down of my new hair regimen, stay tuned for my next hair post this week**